Bruising in chickens is often indicative of a crush injury. It appears as a greenish discoloration of the skin. The green color is the result of the accumulation of biliverdin accumulation, which occurs after hemoglobin is broken down. Bruising generally takes about 2 to 3 days post injury to become apparent on the skin and may last for a week or more.
Bruising in the foot could be indicative of a
fracture. Bruising should be a concern to chicken owners, as it can indicate internal bleeding. If the chicken also has a pale comb than there could be internal blood loss. Internal bleeding is considered an emergency.
